To park quickly, easily, and safely, you need good control of your car, accurate judgment of space, and a good understanding of steering. In order to park safely, you need to understand the different ways to park. They are angle parking, perpendicular parking, and parallel parking.

How do You Angle Park and Perpendicular Park?

When you park at an angle you have little room to maneuver so you must be careful when entering and leaving angled and perpendicular parking spaces.

Left or Right Angle Parking

The spaces are set at an angle from 30 degrees to 90 degrees to the curb or line. 

To angle park on the right, follow these steps:

1. Stay 5 or 6 feet from parked cars to give yourself room to see and maneuver. Observe traffic in all directions and be alert for cars about to leave nearby spaces. Signal for a right turn.
2. Proceed until you can see along the left side of the car to the right of the space you will enter. Steer sharply right. Creep ahead at 3 to 5 mph into the space midway between the lines. Check the left front and right rear of your car to make sure you have clearance. 
3. As you straighten the wheels, move forward until the front of your car is aligned with those on both sides.

Angle parking on the left is similar to that on the right. In this case, start turning the steering wheel to the left when you can see along the right side of the car parked to the left of your chosen space. Now you must keep track of the right front bumper and the left rear fender.

Perpendicular Parking

Perpendicular parking spaces are marked at 90 degrees to the curb or line and are risky because it is hard to see at that angle and there is very little room for maneuvering. 

To enter a perpendicular parking space on the right, follow these steps:

1. Stay 7 to 8 feet from parked cars for best visibility. Observe all traffic conditions and check for cars about to back out of a space. Signal for a right turn.
2. Slow to 3 to 5 mph. Start turning right when you can look down the right side of the car parked to the right of your chosen space. Steer sharply right. Proceed slowly, checking for clearance of your left front bumper. Check your right rear fender to see it does not scrape the rear of the car on your right. 
3. As you straighten the wheels and center in your space, move forward slowly and stop just short of the curb or in line with the cars parked beside you. 

Entering a perpendicular parking space on the left is similar to entering one on the right. In this case you turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction and keep track of the right front bumper and the left rear fender.

• Exiting an Angle or a Perpendicular Parking Space

To leave an angled or a perpendicular space, follow these rules.

1. Turn on your turn signal to alert drivers of your intentions. With your foot on the brake, shift into Reverse. Check all traffic around you. Back very slowly with your wheels straight, looking to your left and over your right shoulder. Keep checking the back and sides for obstacles. Yield to any oncoming traffic. 
2.  To exit an angled space on the right, backing to the right, turn the steering wheel sharply right when your front bumper will clear the rear of the car on your left.  
3. When you exit from a perpendicular space, turn the wheel slightly right or left when your windshield lines up with the rear bumpers of the cars on both sides. Make sure your front fender clears the rear of the car opposite to the direction you are turning. 
4. As the car enters the traffic lane, quickly turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction to straighten the front wheels. Keep looking out the rear window until the car stops. 
5. Shift into Drive or First gear, accelerate, and move into traffic. 

How Do You Parallel Park?

To parallel park you need a space on the side of a street at least 6 feet longer than the length of your car.

Here is how to parallel park:

1. Approach the parking space in the proper lane. Check traffic behind you. Signal and flash your brake lights to alert following drivers of your intention to stop.
2. Move parallel to the car in front of the space, leaving about 3 feet between cars. Stop when the center door posts, or the backs of the front seats of the cars, are even Keep your foot on the brake, and shift into Reverse.
3. Back up, steering sharply to the right. Align the door post with the rear bumper of the car in front. Continue backing slowly, straightening your front wheels, until             your front bumper lines up with the rear bumper of the car in front. 
4. Back up, steering rapidly to the left. Stop before making contact with the bumper of the car behind the space. 
5. With your foot on the brake, shift into Drive or First gear. Move forward slowly, centering your car in the parking space. Stop and set the parking brake. 

To exit a parallel parking space on the follow these steps:

1. Shift into Reverse. Back slowly, straightening your wheels. When your car is about 1 foot from the car behind you, turn the wheel rapidly to the left and stop. 
2. With your foot on the brake, shift into Drive or First gear. Signal a left turn. Check your blind spots. Move forward slowly, steering rapidly the rest of the way to the left.  
3. Yield to approaching traffic. Then move forward slowly. When your center door post is even with the rear bumper of the car in front of you, turn the wheel right until the front wheels point straight ahead. 
4. Check the position of the car to your right, being careful not to scrape it. When your rear bumper is opposite its rear bumper is opposite its rear bumper, accelerate gently and steer right as necessary into traffic.

How Would You Park in Other Areas?

Parking lots and city streets are not the only areas where you park. 

Parking in a Driveway

Centering your car is especially important in a narrow driveway because many driveways are often sloped, downward, you should make sure to set your parking brake. 

Parking in a Garage

Parking in a garage is similar to perpendicular parking. You must make sure to center your car, either between the walls of the garage or between the side of the garage door opening. Good positioning and the ability to judge space to your sides are important to parking in a garage. Remember to check both fenders for clearance as you back slowly out of the garage. 

Parking on a Hill

Parking on a hill is similar to parking on a flat surface. You must make sure your car will not roll into traffic after you leave it. The procedures described here are for parking on the right side of the street. To park on the left side, make appropriate right-left adjustments. 

Parking downhill with a curb. To make sure your car does not roll, take these precautions.

• Bring the car to its normal parallel-parked position.

Turn the steering wheel sharply right and move slowly forward.

• Stop the car when the front right wheel touches the curb. Set the parking brake. If your car has a manual transmission, shift it into Reverse.

Parking Downhill Without a Curb

You may need to park facing downhill on a roadway that has no curb. Follow the same procedure for parking downhill with a curb, but move as close to the shoulder as possible.

Parking Uphill With a Curb

Follow these guidelines to park facing uphill when there is a curb at the edge of the roadway.

1. Bring the car to a normal parallel parked position.
2. Move forward slowly, turning the wheels sharply left. Move about 2 feet and stop.
3. In Neutral, with your foot covering the brake, allow the car to roll back slowly with the wheels turned left until the rear of the right tires touches the curb. Set the parking brake. If your car has a manual transmission, shift to First gear.

Parking Uphill Without a Curb

To park uphill on a road without a curb, follow the procedure for uphill parking with a curb. Center the car in the space with the front wheels turned to the right so that if the car begins to roll it will move off the roadway.

Restrictions on Parking

Before you decide to park your car anywhere, make sure that you will be parked legally. Parking laws may differ from state to state. In most states it is illegal to park in these areas:

1. At a bus stop
2. In a loading zone
3. Double parking
4. On a sidewalk
5. Half in and half out of a driveway
6. Across someone else’s driveway
7. Within a given distance of a fire hydrant
8. In the fire zone in front of schools and other public and private buildings
9. In a no standing zone